Podcast

Scoutcast Episode 263 – squads and strategies for FPL Gameweek 1

The start of the new season is just days away and the Scoutcast crew are still full of doubts about their 15-man Fantasy Premier League squads.

Andy, Az, David and Mark join me to mull over our likely strategies for the start of the 2018/19 campaign as well as reveal our current line-ups.

Across our 82-minute chat, a consensus emerges on backing Manchester City and Liverpool premium assets. But that could all change depending on tomorrow’s transfer deadline day deals and surprise team news.

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth look set to supply our teams with a supporting cast of bargain enablers due to favourable fixtures. Well, for now at least.

But the groupthink soon breaks down when we discuss forward options, with Mark looking exclusively for value up top, while the rest of us are more keen to splash our cash.

The hive-mind soon returns at the end as we reveal our top choice for the Gameweek 1 armband, so to help those daring to shun a certain Egyptian we also offer up a host of alternative captaincy options.

This ScoutCast was first beamed live via our YouTube channel on Tuesday evening. Be sure to subscribe to get notice of future live episodes.

If you’re a traditional type, you can acquire the mp3 audio version via this link on the first player below, or take in the full visual experience via the second player below.

Also, this week we are publishing a series of videos looking in detail at each of the Scoutcast regulars’ current Gameweek 1 line-ups.

Rate My FPL Team #1 – Bargain Hunting at Crystal Palace

Rate My FPL Team #2 – Maximum Man City and Liverpool

Rate My FPL Team #3 – Daring to be Salah-less

Read more with Scout

Visit our PRE-SEASON PAGE to get the latest pointers from pre-season friendlies and read scout reports on new players by CLICKING HERE.

Pick your FPL team for 2018/19 using our list of best available players, sorted for your convenience by position and price:

Goalkeepers | Defenders: Budget | Defenders: Mid-Price and Premium | Midfielders: Budget | Midfielders: Mid-Price | Midfielders: Premium | Forwards: Budget | Forwards: Mid-Price |Forwards: Premium

Also check out our detailed statistical analysis articles on every team comparing data for the last two seasons to highlight the players to sign and the players to avoid:

Arsenal | Bournemouth | Brighton & Hove Albion | Burnley | Cardiff City | Chelsea | Crystal Palace | Everton | Fulham | Huddersfield Town | Leicester City | Liverpool | Manchester City | Manchester United | Newcastle United | Southampton | Tottenham Hotspur | Watford | West Ham | Wolves

Read them all in one place

Become a Member and access our data

Memberships for the 2018/19 campaign are now available for the pre-season price of just £12.50. This will increase to the regular price of £15 after the first Gameweek of the season.

Join now to get the following:

  • Plot your transfer strategies using the fully interactive Season Ticker.
  • Get projections for every Premier League player provided by the Rate My Team statistical model.
  • Use Rate My Team throughout the season to guide your selections and transfers.
  • Get access to over 130+ exclusive members articles over the season.
  • Analyse our OPTA-powered statistic tables specifically tailored for Fantasy Football Managers.
  • Use our exclusive tool to build custom stats tables from over 100 OPTA player and team stats.
  • View heatmaps and expected goals data for every player.
  • Use our powerful comparison tool to analyse players head-to-head.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A FANTASY FOOTBALL SCOUT MEMBER

J0E Podcaster and writer. Tweets stats and stuff via @FFScout_Joe Follow them on Twitter

3,764 Comments Post a Comment
  1. shirtless
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Just can't decide who to go with in nets..

    Fabianski, Patricio, Foster or even McCarthy?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Rui all the way for me.
      But Fab has form of course, and Foster + McCarthy easier opening fixtures.

      1. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Exactly! A Fab mauling on opening day is a grim prospect. Saints are all over the place. It's looking like the Portuguese to me.

    2. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Punt with Pat

    3. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      You've put McCarthy in as a placebo question, haven't you 😉

      1. shirtless
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Had Fab since prices came out! McCarthy sprung to mind last night looking at 4.5 options but their new keeper Gunn is a worry.

  2. LewanGOALski
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    A) A.Sanchez & Jota/Richarlison
    or
    B) Mane & B.Silva

    ??

    1. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. ooooo
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      b

    3. J ⚒ Gimme ur Mané
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B

  3. ooooo
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Best 5.5mil goalkeeper?
    Not ederson Alisson or Patricio

    1. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Kepa

    2. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Rui and spend the cash elsewhere. Save your Liverpool slot.

    3. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Arsenal keeper.

  4. Demel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Is King really better than Austin/Gray. People keep saying he is but I am still not convinced.

    1. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      And what about Mitrovic?

      1. Christina.
        • 14 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Nailed while austin prob is not. King on peno's it seems, Gray prob not.

        I like Mitrovic and will like to own him at some point, just not at the start as I won Jota already.

        Maybe...

        1. Demel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          You make a valid point. Austin a rotation risk. Gray lacks FPL history of doing well. Mitro is a punt. Although he is a punt which still interests me.

    2. jomikijiq
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I will definitely have King. Fixtures, form, the injury from last season is behind him, pens, and plays for the most attacking team.

      But i like Gray pick and maybe I'll go for him If the 1M from Zaha will be needed.

  5. kitier katba
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Hey DZers,

    Care to join a small but competitive league that actually includes a few women?

    1807292-413305

    1. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      What does that mean? 😉

      1. Demel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        That's a bit of a strange sell.

        1. MC Hammer
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          Wonder what the prize is?

          1. John3.16
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 3 months ago

            Pack of marigolds

    2. rainy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Great username. Good luck with the league 🙂

  6. Emery thing I do
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Is Kamara likely to start? He seemed to bag a goal mid week and could be good value at 4.5?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      no

      Front line of Schurrle, Sessegnon and Mitrovic

      1. Emery thing I do
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Isn’t sessegnon playing wing back at the moment?

        1. Andy_Social
          • 12 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          They had a hole in defence in pre-season. Now they've got defenders in (or are due today) so i think Sess will move up the pitch.

  7. FPL_352
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    A) Mane with Daniels, TAA and Ryan/Fab rotation? (+0.5)

    B) Jota with Mendy, Robertson and DDG.

    3rd defender is Shaw...

    1. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B looks good

  8. SheBangsTheDrums
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    BSilva - he's looking likely to start the first few games at least but where will he be playing? Will that be in a deeper midfield role?

    1. n-doggg
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      He will play high

  9. Atimis
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    2 of Zaha/Arnie/King in 343 or 1 in 353 + Jota ?

    Thanks @MC 😉

    1. ooooo
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Arnie King in 1

    2. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Arnie and Zaha

    3. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I've gone with Zaha and Arnie

  10. Catsandhats
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    What’s the best options for 4m defenders and 4.5m midfielders? And nailed players from the new teams?

    1. NUFCAndrew
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Wan Bissaka, Peltier. Stephens at 4.5. Jota, Cairney, Neves etc.

  11. n-doggg
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Pickford fixtures are great at the start plus an easy downgrade if necessary. Surprised more don’t have him

    1. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I wouldn't advise against him. It is a long time since Everton keepers scored as well as they used to under Howard.

    2. Brosstan
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Silva doesn't know how to defend

  12. EL tridente
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    A) Salah and Richarlison
    Or
    B) Mane and Eriksen

    1. jomikijiq
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    2. RedGunPowder11
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      I have them all...exept Salah 🙂

  13. JHolmes
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Best arsenal defender to have, bellerin?

    1. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      For now, yes

    2. jomikijiq
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      probably

  14. machickenz
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Please help! Which option is best?

    A) Aubameyang + Milivojevic + PVA + Peltier
    B) Aubamenyang + Sigurdsson + Boly + Peltier
    C) Firmino + Sigurdsson + BDavies + Peltier
    D) Firmino + Milivojevic + PVA + (5.5 defender)

    1. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      D edges A

      1. machickenz
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Thank you! Who would you recommend for a 5.5 defender?

    2. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

  15. NUFCAndrew
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Is TAA going to start?

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Probably

    2. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      It is more likely than not.

  16. Atimis
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Best def up to 5.0?
    Currently thinking about Lowton.

    1. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Shaw or Sakho for me.

      1. Atimis
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Just afraid Shaw will get mąż 1 game

        1. Atimis
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          *max - autocorrect

        2. Demel
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 3 months ago

          That is possible. I want Maguire if he signs by then.

    2. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Europa puts me off Burnley for now - they are already racking up the yellow flags. PVA probably as good a shout as any at that price.

      1. Bram
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        Sorry Sakho.

  17. jomikijiq
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    A) Ederson, Bailly, Mane, Zaha

    B) Ryan, Kabasele, Mahrez, Firmino

    1. SheBangsTheDrums
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

      1. jomikijiq
        • 9 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        I have Mendy if that changes anything

  18. JorisLa
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Ozil & Zaha or Mitrovic and Mahrez?

    Mane, Ozil, Zaha vs Mahrez, Firmino, Richarlison?

  19. Cruz88
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Sturridge likely to affect Firminos minutes?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Very possible, even if as a regular 65th min sub

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Yeah probably but not significantly

    3. ooooo
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Might be taken off earlier before UCL games

    4. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      As a sub maybe but probably not starts.

      Liverpool don't play until Sunday though so plenty of time for Sturridge to be injured by then!

  20. H-SF
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Luiz still expected to start GW1?

    1. Andy_Social
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Oh yes

    2. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Nailed on imo

  21. Jayben23
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    What’s the prospects of mkhitarian ? Or what’s a better alternative for his price ?

  22. deleallicious
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Salah/King or Mané/Auba?

    Got Bobby.

    Tnx

    1. korbendallas82
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A. Then u can see how Arsenal do it first 2 gw, and have Salah.

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    4. deleallicious
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Cheers guys

  23. ooooo
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Which one?
    A) Ederson + Davies + Bilva + Boly
    B) Patricio + Mendy + Mahrez + 4.0il def

    1. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    3. machickenz
      • 11 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      A

    4. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      B with Wan-B the 4.0m def.

  24. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    So I guess having Bavies is no brainer with Danny Rose news

    1. Demel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      It depends who is lined up to replace him.

  25. NUFCAndrew
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Best 4.5 keeper? Surely got to be Patricio or Fabianski right?

    1. La Roja
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Foster or Flappyhandski

  26. RedMarks 赤的
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Boly or Doherty?
    Robertson or Van Dijk?

    1. The Head-Ake
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Boly. Robbo.

      1. RedMarks 赤的
        • 8 Years
        6 years, 3 months ago

        thanks

  27. SheBangsTheDrums
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    A) Luiz/Mane/Moura/Zaha

    B) Tomkins/BSilva/Jota/Auba

  28. Jack Burton
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    adam smith any good for a 4.5 def last place to fill cheers in advance

  29. Emery thing I do
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    A - Rich & Kamara

    Or

    B - Fraser & Neves

    Thoughts ? Thinking B?

  30. royals forever
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    6 years, 3 months ago

    Could I please have your opinion on the best and most nailed on 6.5-7.5 MF (not B Sliva) for this front 8 for the first 6 or so GWs

    Salah Mahrez Richarlison Stephens xxxxxxxxx

    King Aubameyang Mitrovic

    Any ideas would be welcomed

    1. jomikijiq
      • 9 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      The most nailed is Jota.

      The best short term Moura for few weeks and then easy swap to Mkhi or whoever fires.

    2. MC Hammer
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Miki, Jota and Rich

    3. MikeRyko
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Someone from Palace - maybe Mili or Townsend.

      I like Pedro too but no guarantee he is 100% nailed.

    4. Bram
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      6 years, 3 months ago

      Siggy maybe although Jota is popular.